Chicken prices stabilize

THE cost of chicken dropped this week as poultry suppliers in Southern Luzon began to recover from the damage caused by Typhoon Glenda, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Jose Reaño said the prices of dressed chicken were pegged at P135 to P140 per kilo in major markets, following interventions by the DA to affected poultry producers.

“The supply of chicken has stabilized as operations in farms are normalizing. This is because of our interventions,” Reaño said, noting that broilers in Region 4A have been repaired as early as the first week of July.

He added that pork prices also went down to P175.

However, the prices of eggs have not gone down because it takes five to six months for layers to develop into the “normal laying” stage. Reaño explained that the egg industry is still reeling from the effects of typhoon Yolanda that struck in November 2013 when Typhoon Glenda came in and did more damage.